Kitabı oku: «Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days», sayfa 10
Chapter XI
There were many officers, government officials, and opium and indigo merchants among the passengers. They all went to the eastern coast. Passepartout rode in the same carriage with his master, and a third passengeroccupied a seat57 opposite to them. This was Sir Francis Cromarty58, one of Mr. Fogg’s whist partners on the Mongolia. He wanted to join his corps at Benares59. Sir Francis was a tall, fair man of fifty. He made India his home. He was almost familiar with the customs, history and character of India and its people. But Phileas Fogg did not inquire into these subjects.
Sir Francis Cromarty observed the oddity of his companion. Phileas Fogg did not conceal from Sir Francis his plan, nor all the circumstances. The general saw in the wager a useless eccentricity and a lack of common sense.
Passepartout did not realise that he was actually crossing India in a railway train. The travelers crossed the country of the goddessKali60. Not far off rose Ellora61, with its graceful pagodas, and the famous Aurungabad62.
At half-past twelve the train stopped atBurhampoor63 where Passepartout was able to purchase some Indian slippers, ornamented with false pearls.
At eight o’clock the train stopped in the midst of a glade – fifteen miles beyond Rothal, where there were several bungalows, and workmen’s cabins. The conductor shouted,
“Passengers will get out here!”
Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty for an explanation; but the general did not tell what that meant. Passepartout rushed out and speedily returned. He cried,
“Monsieur, no more railway!”
“What do you mean?” asked Sir Francis.
“I mean to say that the train isn’t going on.”
The general stepped out, while Phileas Fogg calmly followed him. They proceeded together to the conductor.
“Where are we?” asked Sir Francis.
“At thehamlet of Kholby64.”
“Do we stop here?”
“Certainly. The railway isn’t finished.”
“What! not finished?”
“No. There’s still fifty miles from here to Allahabad, where the line begins again.”
“But the papers announced the railway.”
“So what, officer? The papers were mistaken.”
“Yet you sell tickets from Bombay to Calcutta,” retorted Sir Francis.
“No doubt65,” replied the conductor; “but the passengers know that they must provide means of transportation for themselves from Kholby to Allahabad.”
Sir Francis was furious. Passepartout did not dare to look at his master.
“Sir Francis,” said Mr. Fogg quietly, “we will, if you please, look about for some means of conveyance to Allahabad.”
“Mr. Fogg, what a delay!”
“No, Sir Francis; it’s nothing.”
“What! You knew that the way…”
“Not at all; but I know that some obstacle or other will sooner or later arise on my route. Nothing, therefore, is lost. I have two days to sacrifice. A steamer leaves Calcutta for Hong Kong at noon, on the 25th. This is the 22nd, and we shall reach Calcutta in time.”
Many travelers were aware of this interruption, and they began to engage wagons, carriages, palanquins, ponies, and so on. Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty did not find anything.
“I shall walk,” said Phileas Fogg.
Passepartout said,
“Monsieur, I think I found something.”
“What?”
“An elephant! An elephant that belongs to an Indian who lives a hundred steps from here.”
